Yarn feeding mechanism for straight knitting machines



M. RICHTER 2,063,000

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Dec. 1, 1936.

Filed May 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1210x340 I I I ATTHRNEY M. RICHTER I Dec. 1, 1936.

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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.M. RICHTER Dec. 1, 1936.

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES INVENTOR: jmwa A TTORN M. RICHTER 2,063,000 YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Dec. 1, 1936.

Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.' .mwgwwaz; B Y

" ATTBRNEY Dec. 1-, 1936. c E v I YARN FEEDING MECHANISM EOR' STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE'Y.

M. RICHTER Dec. 1, 1936;

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 19:55 9 sheets-sheet e I mvgzzvrox;

. -,m:z; flwhir,

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1936. M. RICHTER 2,063,000

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING-MACHINES Filed May 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEY.

. M. RIcI-ITEF Dec. 1, 1936.

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 21 1935 INKENTOR. ma: 1720111313,

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1936. M. RICHTER 02,063,000

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9., Sheets-Sheet 9 A TTORN Patented Dec. 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFKIE YARN resume MEGHANISM ron s'rmucn'r xm'r'rmc moms Application May 21, 1935, Serial No. 22.531

18 Claims.

My invention relates to novel driving mechanisms for the carrier rods of full-fashioned knitting machines, and particularly to means for automatically connecting the rods to, and releasing them from, the carrier-rod actuator rod in accordance with the patterns of hosiery being knitted.

The usual drive for yarn carrier rods includes a longitudinally reciprocable friction-box rod carrying a plurality of friction boxes which are connected to the carrier rods. The stroke of the friction or actuator rod is constant, and it may move independently of a friction box and its carrier, while the latter is held inoperative. This action occurs when the strokes are maintained constant, and when the fabric is progressively narrowed, following which action correspondingly decreasing strokes of the carriers are required.

Likewise, during plating or splicing operations, certain of the carriers move only a small fractional part of the distance traversed by the friction rod. Consequently, to maintain the correct lead of the carrier relative to the slnkers. during plating, and while the fabric is gradually decreased in width, independent means must normally be provided to hold the carriers inoperative until the selected sinkers have been advanced, whereupon the carriers are released by the independent means, and permitted, with the friction boxes, to be actuated by the friction-box-rod.

It accordingly, is an objectof the invention to provide a novel rod-operating mechanism for a full-fashioned knitting machine that shall operate the carriers with a constant lead with respect to the sinkers, irrespective of the rod travel.

Further, although automatic rod-operating mechanisms, of the rotary-type, have heretofore been known in the art, as set forth in my Patent No. 1,884,244, issued October 25, 1932 and assigned to the assignee hereof, to the best of my knowledge, no means has heretofore been devised whereby the rod-operating mechanism will likewise control the lead of the carriers relative to thi sinkers, during the coulieringoperation.

It is another object of the invention to automatically control the carrier rods of a full-fashioned knitting machine in accordance with a pal-tern, by the employment of a rotary frictionbox or clutch mechanism and, at the same time, maintain a correct lead of the carriers relative to the sinkers.

Also, it has heretofore been suggested to provide an auxiliary pattern-control unit for each of several knitting operations, and to control such units by a main or master pattern chain, the

auxiliary unit being operated from the main cam shaft of the machine through a constantly operating linkage, and selected for such operation by the main pattern chain, through another linkage, this construction, whereby two linkages are employed, resulting in ari undue number of parts, excessive weight and unnecessary wear.

It is therefore, another object of the invention to provide a device, in association with a friction-drive mechanism, as herein set forth, for avoiding such objections by a single linkage, between the cam shaft and the main pattern device, on the one hand and the auxiliary pattern units on the other hand, whereby there are no constantly operating parts, no undue number of parts or excessive weight and cost, no unnecessary wear, and none of several adverse effects resulting from such mechanism.

Another object resides in the provision of the auxiliary pattern units in the form of variablelink chains, whereby changes in the adjustment and operation of the machine may be efiected quickly'and at low cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above indicated character that shall be simple and durable inconstruction, economical to manufacture and effective in its operation,

With these and other objects in view, which will be apparent from the following description of the illustrative embodiment of the improvement shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements and combinations thereof, as hereinafter more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one end portion 0 a full-fashioned knitting machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of a portion of the machine indicated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views, similar to a portion at the lower left-hand corner of Fig. 1,

illustrating the application. of one of the devices,

Illi rod and a carrier rod during the knitting 'stantially in the direction of the A of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the device, taken substantially along the line -9 of Fig. 8;

Fig 10 is a detail view of certain of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of an auxiliary pattern-control unit embodied in the invention;

Fig. 12 is a further enlargedtop plan view of a section of a patternchain of the device of Fig. 11; v

bodying the mechanism, and elements of my inventionfwhich, for clearness, only those of the various mechanisms necessary for an understanding oflthe invention are illustrated; the other parts, and the operation thereof, being well known in the art, as fully shown and described in the Reading" full fashioned knitting machine catalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading,

- Pennsylvania.

-Referring to the drawings, a rotatable cam shaft ll, supporting the cams employed to operate the various mechanisms, is supported by end and center frames l2 and i3, respectively, which are connected by transverse tie members, including a front beam ll, a back beam II, a front bed I, and a center bed l'l; constituting'a structure upon which the operating parts of the machine are supported. Shiftablecams i8 and I9, cooperating with a main pattern device or chain motion mechanism C, constitute means whereby the cam shaft ll may be shifted from its normal knitting position to its narrowing position for operating narrowing heads N in a usual manner.

The rotative movement of the cam shaft II is translated into the reciprocative motion of slurcock cams 20, by an intermediate coulier cam 22. Fig. 2. which is connected to the cam shaft ill, through bevel gearing (not shown), to reduce the rotative speed, from the cam shaft It to the coulier cam 22, in the ratio of twoto one. The coulier cam 22, coacting with rollers 23 on a pitman 24, reciprocates the pitman and a base 2! for an actuator rod 26, corresponding to a usual friction rod, through an intermediate rocker arm 21 and a connecting link 28, in athe back beam l5, by a bearing 30,. and at the other end is connectedto the rocker arm 21,

which is pivotally connected by a shaft 23 to a bearing 22 secured to the back beam II. The

reciprocatory movement of the base 25 is transmitted to the slurcock cams 20 through an intermediate slide box which is joined to a connecting bar 25 on which are secured Slide boxes 38, maintaining thecams II.

5 illustrate various parts of a During the reciprocative travel of the slur cams 2|, iacks 31 are impelled th eby to move sinkers "fl between needles I8, fo sinking the yarn fed by carriers 40. The carriers ll are secured to carrier rods I to l, inclusive. which are slidabiy mounted in brdckets I on the center bed l'l. The carriers i t0 I, inclusive, are.provided with .toothed racks I to I", inclusive, respectively, Figs. 3 and 4. Retraction of the sinkers and dividers is eifected by a catch bar 44, which is operated by cams on the shaft II; the

operation of the 'needles being effected through a needle lever ii. and a presser lever 48, which are actuated by cams on the shaft III.

In accordancewith the invention, instead of the usual friction boxes, a plurality of connectors F to 1", inclusive, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, are provided toseparateiy operate a corresponding number of carrier rods. The connectors F indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, is a shaft 50, to which a gear wheel I! is fixed for cooperation with a toothed rack la on the carrier rod I, which the unit 1" is to actuate; the gear wheels 52 of the units I" to l", inclusive, similarlybeing provided for cooperation with toothed racks 2* to I, respectively to Fig. 3.

Rigidly secured to the shaft 5., is a sleeve I4, Fig. 7, having a raised portion '55 between a driving gear '0 and a driving disc 51 of the carrier friction driver D, Figs. 6 and 7. The disc 51, which forms the base for the driver D, has a hub portion ll' extending from the. internal face thereof, which is rotatably mounted on the sleeve II, and is axially movable relative thereto. Its axial position is controlled, by a lever 58, through the abutting surfaces l1 and I and Il and I." respectively.

An external disc 5!, held by a key OI against turhingrelativeto the driving disc", and constituting one element of a slip, yielding, or friction clutch, is axially movable relative thereto. Similarly, a center disc 2, constituting another element of the slip clutch, held against rotation relative to the disc I! by a key 63, is axially movable with respect thereto. The friction, or slipclutch plates O l and I, provided on both sides with facings and 85. respectively, of leather or other suitable material, are rotatably mounted on the hub portion 62- of the center disc62,

and are held in frictional engagement with opposite faces of the disc 62, as well as with the inner faces of the discs 59 and 51, through the com:- pressing action exerted on the disc It by a coil spring 86. The degree of compression of the spring 66 is controlled by adjustable lock nuts 81 on the hub 51', as seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

To the driving disc 51 is secured a tooth element 68, constituting one element of a lock clutch, which, when the device is operated, coacts with one of the recessed elements II, constituting a cooperating element of the lock clutch, in the side of the driving gear 58. Thus, when the gear 56 is rotated, by its coacting rack gear portion III of the member 28, moving in accordance with movement of the rocker arm 21 to which it is connected. the drivingdisc I1 is rotated by the oooperating lock clutch elements I. and I, whereupon the friction discs 84 and I! are rotated.

Ears or lugs and 65", Figs. 8 and 9, ex.

tending from the friction plates '4, and 85, respectively, and consequently, rotating in conjunction therewith, engage opposite sides of the lever 5|, the ear engaging, and rotating the lever 52, when the driver D is rotated in a clockwise. direction, see Fig. 9, by a stroke to the left of the actuator rod 2, Fig. 2. Reverse movement of of the actuator rod '26 will bring the ear I!" into engagement with the lever 58 and impart a counterclockwise movement thereto, to move the carrier rod I to the right, through the intermediate shaft 5|, the gear wheel 52 and the rack gear I.

The lever 58 is secured to the shaft 5| by a feather key 12, thereby permitting axial shifting of the lever 58 relative to the shaft 5|, while every rotative movement of the latter is directly transmitted to the lever 58. Since the rack gear I, on the carrier rod I, is in continuous engage- I ment with the gear 52 secured to the shaft II by a set screw 12, every rotative movement of the lever 5', will actuate the corresponding carrier rod.

When the stroke of the carrier rod is terminated by any of the well known stop such as a stop ll of the narrowing head N, Fig. 1, the lever 58 is prevented from further rotation,

and stops the friction plate which is, at'that time, in operation. The other friction plate will continue to rotate, until stopped by the engagement of its ear piece with the stop 14, while the disc 51, 50 and 82 will continue to rotate, in accordance with the operation of the coulieringme'chanism, until operative engagement between the clutch elements I and a is discontinued.

By this device, the lead of thecarrier rods relative to the operation of the sinkers, which is ordinarlly maintained by mechanism associated directly with the carrier rods independent of the friction drive mechanism therefor, is automatically taken care of, to eliminate the usual cumbersome auxiliary members, and the difliculties associated with the synchronization thereof. Thus, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, with the driver D moving clockwise, and the lever 5'' being propelled by the lug the arcuate distance between .the lug $5" and the lever 58 corresponds to the amount of couliering effected prior to the actuating of the lever .58 by the ear l4".

Although the clockwise travel of the lever II, and consequently that of the lug is controlled by an element of the rod stopping mechanism, as for instance, the stop ll of the narrowing head N, the corresponding directional movement of the lug 85 continues until the latter engages the bottom surface of the stop It. Consequently, if the narrowing mechanism N operates before the couliering of the next stroke, the corresponding carrier rod will be retracted from the position to which it had been moved by its next previous stroke through a distanceof two needles, while the lever 5| and lug N" will be moved a corresponding distance counterclockwise, where'- by the lug 65" must traverse a distance corre sponding to the two-needle narrowing, in addi tion to the distance above set forth before enthe engagement of the ear II' to the lever II, and :3 return movement of the respective carrier The above-described operation may be better understood from Flgs. 14 to :21, inclusive, in which all elements not essential to an understanding of the operation have been removed, and the remaining parts have been so arranged, without regard to actual scal form or position, as to provide better visualiza on'of the device and its operation.

In Figs. 1'4 to 17, inclusive, the parts and operation are illustrated in association with a carrier, such as the carrler2, for laying ordinary yarn courses, such as those in a stocking; leg.

which merely laid back and forth between selvedges equidistant from the longitudinal center line of the blank.

In such case, with the carrier rod 2 at the right-- hand end of its stroke. against the narrowing .stop II, as seen in Fig. 14, when the actuator. rod

26' reciprocates to the left, it turns the gear wheel 56 clockwise through a first seem which the lugs and 5 move-from the positions thereof in Fig. 14 tothe positions of Fig. 15; this move-' ment being an idle movement, with the lug merely moving away from the stop vll, andthe lug 6S" merew moving away from the lever I. which is connected to the gear wheel 52 for racking the carrier-rod 2. 5

At the position of 15, thelug M" engages the lever it to turn it to the position of 'Fig'i 16; the ing 65'', at the same time,bein moved from 'its position of Fig. 15, to its position against the stage, Fig. is,

stop I4 in Fig. 16. a It is 00 be noted that, at $1118 although the lugs M and and the lever 58, I

have all reached the limit of their clockwise movement, and the carrier rod 2 has been moved to position against its lefthand stop II, the actuator rod has not yet reached the end of its left hand stroke. However, since the actuator rod 26 audits gear wheel "are yieldingly fric-" the lugs I!" and Cl", and the lever it, moving counterclockwise in unison,,until the carrier rod 2 is again racked to the'rlght against its righthand end stop ll, whereupon the lug It returns to its position of Fig. 14, against the stop ll, and

the actuator rod 2' effects a further idle movement to the right, similar to the idle movement thereof, illustrated in Pig. 1'1. r 1

Note that the positions of the lever $8 in Figs. 14 and 1'1, respectively, correspond to the positions of the carrier 2, at the right-and left hand ends of its stroke, at positions emu-distant from the center wale of the stocking blank.

In Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, the operationof carrier rod I, as a plating carrier for a heel and the other parts shown, is like that illustrated in Figs. 14 to 17, respectively, except that, in thisimtancc, the lever N reciprocates clockwise and counterclockwise between limiting posiions, corresponding to the limiting positions of the carrier both at one side of the walewise center of the stocking blank, as illustrated in Figs. 18 and 21, respectively; this result being effected by limiting movement oi'the carrier rod l to the right, by one of the narrowing stops Ii, and to the left by eng ement of a lug I on the rod with a plating stop 8i, instead of allowing the rod full reciprocation acrossvthe blank between portionsequi-distant from the walewise center, as determined by the stop H.

To provide means for engaging the driver D to, and disengaging it from, the driving gear I, a lever 15 is secured to a shaft", which is pivotally mounted in bearing portionsof arms 11 projecting from the frame ll, Fig. 9. Pins- 1l maintained by the forked portions of the lever I5, coact with a recessed portion 50, of the lever ll relative to the shaft II, to cause the tooth II to either engage or disengage the tooth 6!, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the lever Ii.

Each of bell cranks It, provided one for each of the units F to F, respectively, see Figs. and 6, pivotally mounted on a pin 80 at the extended lower portion of the bearing 41, is linked to the lever by a rod 82. The rod 82 is secured at one end, to a stud II that is pivotally mounted on the lever 15, and, at the opposite end, extends through a stud 84 supported by the crank N. A compression spring 05, surrounding the rod 02 between a collar 86, and the stud 84, tends to maintain a collar 81 engaged to the lower side of the stud 84. A tension spring ll, secured to the back beam i5, cooperates with the horizontal arm of the bell crank 19, of the unit F to maintain a follower 89 thereon engaged to an auxiliary variable-link chain 90. High links 82 of the chain 90', when reaching a position beneath the follower Q9, automatically operate the driver D through the above described parts. Similarly, the units F to F, inclusive, are provided with chains 90'' to 90 respectively, including high links 92, like the high links of the chain Oil", but arranged to have the camming contours of the several chains in accordancewith the respective requirements thereof.

The auxiliary variable-link chain see particularly Figs. 11, 12 and 13, is maintained between an idler pulley 93 and the sprocket N, which is secured in position on the main control shaft 95. The latter is intermittently operated by the ratchet structure shown, when a control button 96 on the main pattern device or chain 81, see Fig. 1, is in position to trip the lever 90. When the lever it is tripped, it shifts a rod II to the right, whereupon a lever III is turned clockwise, about its pivotal mounting III on the front beam ll, while the end I'll, which normally-supports an arm ill of a lever III, disengages the arm "3', as a spring I, anchored to the back beam Ii by a hook III, draws a link I and permits a follower Ill, Fig. 5.

Coaction, between the follower Ill and the cam ill, rocks the lever I" relative to a supporting narrowing-lift shaft I, this action imparting an oscillatory movement to a member I I I, loosely mounted on the control shaft II, whereupon a pawl I I2, pivotally mounted on the member ill, racks a ratchet wheel H3 and, consequently, the shaft OI to which it is secured. This action reengages an adjacent link of the chain 90 to the roller II. high links I of which automatically operate the bell crank IO. The latter operates the clutch mechanism through the rod I! and the lever IS-,to P rmit the rack gear II to operate the carrier rod through the driver D and the related mechanism above set forth.

Units, such as the units F to F, respectively, for separately operating individual carrier rods,

ill to engage a control cam are spaced at selected points on the machine, see Figs.3 and4; theoperationofeachunitbeing controlled by an individual auxiliary pattern unit including a variable-link control chain, 'see par- 'ment of the clutch member, which controls the operation of the corresponding carrier rod. Movement of the rod I to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 10, causes a collar ill to engage the adjacent face of a bracket 1 i5, and the high portion iil' to coact with an extension ll! of the crank I! to operate the latter. This action effects engagement between the members 68 and 69, similarly to the manner in which engagement is effected between these members when a high link of the chain 90, of the unit F coacts with the roller 89 to operate the crank 19, and consequently to operate the carrier rod, as above set forth.

However, when the rod H4 is raised. and moved to the left, from the. operative position shown in Figs. 5 and 10, so that the collar H8 is moved through the opening in the bracket iii, the spring 88 will lower the horizontal arm of the crank I9 until the extension 9 engages the low surface ill, at which position the roller 89 is in contact with a low link of the chain 90, whereupon the clutch mechanism operates to disengage the carrier rod from the driving mechanism.

The coaction of the surface it'l with the extension i ll operates the bell crank 19 and consequently, operates the clutch mechanism in the manner that the latter is operated when a high link 92 coacts with the roller 8!; the roller 88 ugd the extension H9 being carried by the crank I9, as effected by its coaction with the surface III, is identical to the movement imparted thereto by engagement of the low links of the chain 9. with the roller IS; the two mechanisms being provided to permit automatic and manual operation of the clutch member.

In the above described structure, there is but a single linkage, including the link I I, between the cam shaft iii and the main pattern chain, on the one hand, or at one end of such linkage, and the auxiliary pattern units, including the chains I. to 9| at the other end of the linkage. This linkage not only transmits the driving power of the cam shaft II to the chains 9. to 9|", but also is directly affected, at a position locally associated with the cam shaft, in accordance with the selective operation thereof by the main pattern chain. In other words, by the arrangement whereby the follower I01 is intermittently thrown into and out of operation relative to the cam I", no part of the linkage to the chains 90 to 90 is under constant operation and excessive wear, and, by the single linkage, space is conserved, the number, weight, and cost of parts are reduced, and more effective operation and other advantages are obtained.

Consequently, the operation of the crank The improvements specifically shown and de-.

scribed, by which the above results are obtained.

can be modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and claimed.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator-rod, of means including a rotary clutch for operation, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods and for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers.

2. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers including stop means, a pair of elements i'rictionally relatively movable with respect to each other and frictionally driven from the actuator rod alternately against opposing sides of said stop means, and a member connected to the carrier rod and having a portion disposed between said elements for alternate movement in opposite directions thereby.

3. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-m'otion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers comprising a shaft, means including elements on said shaft for cooperation with said carrier and actuator rods to drive, and be driven by, said rods, respectively, clutching mechanism cooperating with said elements including other elements movable relative to each other, a stationary stop cooperating with said relatively movable clutch elements, and a member connected to the carrier rod cooperating with said mechanism for operating the clutch and cooperating with said clutch elements for providing said constant lead.

4. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers comprising means including elements for cooperation with said carrier and actuator rods to drive, and be driven by, said rods, respectively, clutching mechanism cooperating with said elements including other elements movable relative to each other, a stop cooperating with said rela- 4 tively movable clutch elements, and a second member cooperating with said clutch elements to provide said constant lead.

5. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, end stops for the carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a couliermotion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of stop means, a pair of elements Irictionally movable relative to each other and irictionally driven from the actuator rod al ternately against opposing sides of said stop means, and a member connected to the carrier rod and having a portion disposed between said elements for alternate movement thereby in opposite directions, said elements operating together in one direction until the carrier rod engages an end stop to stop one of the elements, the other element continuing movement in one direction until stopped by said stopping means, and the actuator rod continuing its operative stroke in corresponding direction after said other element has engaged said stopping means.

6. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, end stops for the carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a couliermotion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier andactuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a positionof constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers including stop means, a pair of elements frictionally driven from the actuator rod alternately against opposing sides of said stop means, and a member connected to the carrier rod and having a portion disposed between said elements for alternate movement in opposite directions thereby, said elements operating together in one direction until the carrier rod engages an end stop to stop one of the elements, the other element continuing movement in said one direction until stopped by said stopping means,

and the actuator rod continuing its operative stroke in corresponding direction after said other element has engaged said stopping means.

'7. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an acuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod,'of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers comprising a shaft, means including elements on, said shaft for cooperation with said carrier and actuator rods to drive, and be driven by, said rods, respectively, cooperating lock-clutch elements movably mounted on said shaft, a slip-clutch structure including a member fixed to one or said lock-clutch elements, and a plurality of elements movable relative to said member and irictionally movably related to each other, a stationary stop cooperating with said friction-clutch elements, and a second member connected to the carrier rod movably mounted on said shaft cooperating with said friction-clutch elements to provide said constant lead.

8. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means .disposed, and providing a lost-motion connecon the shaft for cooperation with said elements, a slip-clutch cooperating with the lock-clutch including elements movable relative to each other,

- a stationary stop cooperating with said slipclutch elements, and a second member connected to the'carrier rod and movably mounted on the shaft for cooperation with said slip-clutch to provide said constant lead.

' 9. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a eoulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, ofmeans disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers comprising racks on the carrier and actuator rods. respectively, a shaft, gear wheels fixedly and movably mounted on said shaft for cooperation withsaid carrier arid actuator-rod racks, respec-' tively, cooperating lockfclutch elements movably mounted on said shaft, a slip-clutch structure including a member fixed to one of said lockclutch elements, and a plurality of elements mov able relative to said member and frictionally relatively movably related to each other, a stationary stop cooperating with said friction-clutch elements, and a second member movably mounted on said shaft cooperating with said frictionclutch elements and connected to the carrier rod to maintain said constant lead.

10. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, end stops for the carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers including stop means, a pair of rotatable elements frictionally movable relative to each other having radial lugs and frictionaily driven from the actuator rod to alternately engage one of said lugs against one side of said stopping means and the other lug against an opposing side of said stopping means, and a member connected to the carrier'rod and having a portion disposed between said lugs for. alternate movement thereby in opposite directions, said elements operating together in one direction until the carrier rod engages an end stop to stop one of the elements, the other element continuing movement in said one direction until stopped by said stopping means, and the actuator rod continuing its operative stroke in corresponding direction after said other element has engaged sai stopping means.

I 11. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the sinkers comprising racks on the carrier and actuator rods, respectively, a shaft, gear wheels fixedly and movably mounted on said shaft for cooperation with said carrier and actuator-rod racks, respectively, cooperating lock-clutch elements movably mounted on said shaft, a slip-clutch structure including a member flxed to one of said lockclutch elements, and a plurality of elements movable relative to said member and frictionally relatively movably related to each other, a station ary stop cooperating with said friction-clutch elements, and a member connected to the carrier rod movably mounted on said shaft cooperating with one of said lock-clutch elements for operating the lock-clutch and cooperating with said friction-clutch elements for providing said constant lead. a

12. A straight knitting machine comprising a carrier rod, an actuator for the rod, a connector for connecting the rod to, and releasing it from, the actuator, an auxiliary pattern unit for controlling the connections and releases of the connector, a cam shaft, a cam on the cam shaft, linkage including a follower for movement into and out of operative relation to the cam aflecting the operation of said unit, and a main pattern device for controlling said movement of the follower.

13. A straight knitting machine comprising a carrier rod, an actuating member therefor, a rotary friction-slip clutch for connecting the rod to, and disconnecting it from, the actuator, an auxiliary pattern unit including a variable-link chain, means including a bell crank follower eIe- "several rods to the common operating mechanism, manuaily-operable'means for engaging the rotary clutch devices to, and disengaging them from, the common operating mechanism, and a pattern chain for operation by the control shaft to selectively control the automatic &connection of the rotary clutch devices to the common operating mechanism.

15. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft, knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means disposed, and providing a lost-motion connection, between the-carrier and actuator rods for maintaining the carrier rod in a position of constant lead relative to the operation of the cam shaft, an auxiliary pattern unit for controlling the connections and'releases of said lost-motion connecting means, a cam on the cam shaft, linkage including a follower for movement into and out of operative relation to the cam affecting the operation of said unit, and a main pattern device for controlling said movement of the follower.

16. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft, knitting mechanism including sinkers, a carrier rod, an actuator rod for the carrier rod, and a coulier-motion mechanism for operating the sinkers and the actuator rod, of means including a rotary-disc clutch dis posed, and providing a lost-motion connection,

between the carrier and actuator rods, an auxiliary pattern unit including a variable-link chain and a chain follower connected to the clutch for actuating the same, a cam on the cam shaft, linkage including a follower for movement into and out of operative relation to the cam aifecting the operation of said unit, and a main pattern device for controlling said movement of the follower. a v

17. A straight knitting machine comprising a carrier rod, an actuator for the rod, a rotary friction-slip clutch for connecting the rod to, and disconnecting it from, the actuator and including cooperating clutch members one of which has an annular portion, a pivoted yoke element for cooperation with said annular portion of said one clutch member to shift the member relative to the other member, an auxiliary pattern unit including a variable-link chain, a bell crank lever element carrying on one arm a follower for the chain, a rod connected between the other arm of the bell crank and the yoke but being longitudinally movable relative to one of said elements, a spring surrounding said connector rod, movement of the bell crank by the chain being transmitted to the yoke through the spring, and a main pattern device for controlling the operation of the auxiliary follower unit.

18. A straight knitting machine comprising a carrier rod, an actuator for the rod, a rotary triction-slip clutch for connecting the rod to, and disconnecting it from, the actuator and including cooperating clutch elements one of which has an annular portion, a. pivoted yoke for cooperation with said annular portion of said one clutch element to shift said element relative to the other, an auxiliary pattern unit including a variablelink chain, a sprocket wheel for the chain and a shaft for the wheel, a bell crank lever carrying on one arm a follower for the chain, alink connection between the other arm of the bell crank and the yoke, a ratchet wheel on said shaft, a pawl for actuating the shaft and the sprocket wheel through the ratchet wheel, and a main pattern device for controlling the operation of the auxiliary pattern unit.

, MAX RICHTER. 

